This readme file was generated on <2025-12-09> by <OMANJANA GOSWAMI>

<text in angle brackets should be changed for your specific dataset>

<!---This readme template was derived from Cornell University Data Services: https://data.research.cornell.edu/data-management/sharing/readme/--->

# GENERAL INFORMATION

## Title of Dataset: Less Fertilizer, Better Outcomes: USDA Conservation Programs Benefit Both Farmers and the Planet

## Author/Principal Investigator Information
Name: Omanjana Goswami

ORCID:0000-0001-7539-4508

Institution: Union of Concerned Scientists

Address: 1825 K St NW, Suite 800, Washington DC 20006

Email: OGoswami@ucs.org

## Author/Associate or Co-investigator Information
Name: Precious Tshabalala

ORCID:0000-0001-8902-150X

Institution: Union of Concerned Scientists

Address: 1825 K St NW, Suite 800, Washington DC 20006

Email: PTshabalala@ucs.org

## Date of data collection: 
8/11/2025

## Geographic location of data collection:
Washington DC, USA

## Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data:
N/A

# SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION

## Licenses/restrictions placed on the data:  
This dataset is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

## Links to publications that cite or use the data: 
www.ucs.org/resources/less-fertilizer-better-outcomes
https://doi.org/10.47923/2026.16101

## Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi%3A10.7910%2FDVN%2FUGIVGN&showIngestSuccess=true&version=DRAFT

## Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: n/a

Was data derived from another source? Yes


If yes, list source(s): n/a
Link for acres implemented data:  https://www.farmers.gov/data/financial-assistance-practices
Link for Practice 590  Financial Assistance data:  https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/FPAC_PUB/views/RCASelectedPracticesbyLandUseandState/SelectPracticesDashboard?:embed=y&:isGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y
Link for NRCS Practice Scenario data:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/Illinois-Practice-Scenarios-2023-Updated-Jan2023.pdf
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Iowa-Scenarios-23-payment-rates.pdf
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Minnesota-Scenarios-23-payment-rates.pdf
Link for IMPLAN: https://implan.com/


## Recommended citation for this dataset: https://doi.org/10.47923/2026.16101


# DATA & FILE OVERVIEW

## File List: 
<list all files (or folders, as appropriate for dataset organization) contained in the dataset with a brief description>
* <IMPLAN 590 acres data> This data contains funding for Practice 590 and acres on which it was implemented, estimated fertilizer cost savings and the estimated cost of participation, which is then used as input for IMPLAN.
	Illinois - Select Practices.xlsx
	Iowa - Select Practices.xlsx
	Minnesota - Select Practices.xlsx
* <IMPLAN 590 input calculations> This data contains funding for Practice 590 and acres on which it was implemented, estimated fertilizer cost savings and the estimated cost of participation broken down by category of cost.
	Illinois - Practice 590 different scenarios.xlsx
	Iowa 590 scenarios.xlsx
	Minnesota - Practice 590 different scenarios.xlsx
* <IMPLAN Results> These are the results from IMPLAN
	Economic and Environmental impacts.xlsx


## Relationship between files, if important: 

## Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: 

## Are there multiple versions of the dataset? No. 
If yes, name of file(s) that was updated: n/a

Why was the file updated? n/a

When was the file updated? n/a


# METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION

## Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Data was downloaded from linked sources on August 11, 2025. 
<include links or references to publications or other documentation containing experimental design or protocols used in data collection>

Link for acres implemented data:  https://www.farmers.gov/data/financial-assistance-practices
Link for Practice 590  Financial Assistance data:  https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/FPAC_PUB/views/RCASelectedPracticesbyLandUseandState/SelectPracticesDashboard?:embed=y&:isGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y
Link for NRCS Practice Scenario data:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/Illinois-Practice-Scenarios-2023-Updated-Jan2023.pdf
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Iowa-Scenarios-23-payment-rates.pdf
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/Minnesota-Scenarios-23-payment-rates.pdf
We used the Financial assistance and practice scenario data as input in IMPLAN, an Input/Output model.
Link for IMPLAN: https://implan.com/


## Methods for processing the data: 
<describe how the submitted data were generated from the raw or collected data> 

Detailed description is in the IMPLAN 590 input calculations folder

## Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: 
<include full name and version of software, and any necessary packages or libraries needed to run scripts>

IMPLAN. 2023. “IMPLAN: Economic Impact Analysis Software.” https://implan.com/

## Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: n/a

## Environmental/experimental conditions: n/a

## Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: 

## People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: 
Omanjana Goswami, Precious Tshabalala

# DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: [FILENAME] IMPLAN input calculations
<repeat this section for each dataset, folder or file, as appropriate>

Number of variables: 6

Number of cases/rows: 6

Variable List: <list variable name(s), description(s), unit(s) and value labels as appropriate for each>
Region Illinois
* <variable 1> Equipment installation (equipment and power unit costs, no labor) - Industry 252 in IMPLAN
* <variable 2> General labor - Industry 50 in IMPLAN
* <variable 3> Specialist labour - Industry 19 in IMPLAN
* <variable 4> Materials - Industry 450 in IMPLAN
* <variable 5> Fertilizer cost savings - Industry 159 in IMPLAN
* <variable 6> Accounting for subsidy in proprietor income - Industry 2 in IMPLAN

Missing data codes: <list code/symbol and definition>
* <missing data code, e.g. null, n/a, blank>
n/a

Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: 
* <file format,  .xlsx - requires Microsoft Excel to open


# DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: [FILENAME] IMPLAN input calculations
<repeat this section for each dataset, folder or file, as appropriate>

Number of variables: 6

Number of cases/rows: 6

Variable List: <list variable name(s), description(s), unit(s) and value labels as appropriate for each>
Region Iowa
* <variable 1> Equipment installation (equipment and power unit costs, no labor) - Industry 252 in IMPLAN
* <variable 2> General labor - Industry 50 in IMPLAN
* <variable 3> Specialist labour - Industry 19 in IMPLAN
* <variable 4> Materials - Industry 450 in IMPLAN
* <variable 5> Fertilizer cost savings - Industry 159 in IMPLAN
* <variable 6> Accounting for subsidy in proprietor income - Industry 2 in IMPLAN


Missing data codes: <list code/symbol and definition>
* <missing data code, e.g. null, n/a, blank>
n/a

Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: 
* <file format,  .xlsx - requires Microsoft Excel to open


# DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: [FILENAME] Excess50_FertUse_GHGcalc.csv
<repeat this section for each dataset, folder or file, as appropriate>

Number of variables: 6

Number of cases/rows: 6

Variable List: <list variable name(s), description(s), unit(s) and value labels as appropriate for each>
Region Minnesota
* <variable 1> Equipment installation (equipment and power unit costs, no labor) - Industry 252 in IMPLAN
* <variable 2> General labor - Industry 50 in IMPLAN
* <variable 3> Specialist labour - Industry 19 in IMPLAN
* <variable 4> Materials - Industry 450 in IMPLAN
* <variable 5> Fertilizer cost savings - Industry 159 in IMPLAN
* <variable 6> Accounting for subsidy in proprietor income - Industry 2 in IMPLAN



Missing data codes: <list code/symbol and definition>
* <missing data code, e.g. null, n/a, blank>
n/a

Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: 
* <file format,  .xlsx - requires Microsoft Excel to open

